Metal table



E. C. BOOTH May 19, 1942.

METAL TABLE '3 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed March 6, 1941 INVENTOR. 45691 67500771,

I I I irraexv: 11:.

E. C. BOOTH May 19:, 1942.

METAL TABLE Filed March 6, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 2 May 19,1942. I c BOOTH 2,283,351

METAL TABLE Filed illarch 6. 1941 s Sheet-Sheet s INVENTOR. flex 500 firae/nfri Patented May 19, 1942 METAL TABLE Earl C. Booth, Columbus, Ind., assignor to Noblitt- Sparks Industries, Inc Columbus, Ind., a corporation of Indiana.

Application March 6, 1941, Serial No. 382,003

Claims.

My invention relates to metal tables and has among its objects the production of a table which can be simply and economically manufactured and which will besturdy and durable in use. Another object of my invention is to produce a metal extension table having va removable center leaf and to provide means for supporting such center leaf beneath the table when the leaf is not in use.

In carrying out my invention, I construct the table'of two generally similar sections each of which comprises one-half the table-top and two legs, the two halves of the table being interconnected by guides for relative longitudinal sliding movement. The center leaf, which is adapted to be inserted and supported between the two halves of the top when the table is extended, is provided in its lower surface with a pair of hook-like elements which, when the leaf is removed and placed in inverted position beneath the table, are adapted to be received between the two halves of the table as they are moved together, whereby the leaf is suspended closely adjacent the under surface of the table-top in a position where it is out of the way. Each half sirably being of channel section and arranged with its flanges extending toward the outer end of the top. At each of its ends, the channel I5 is trimmed to provide an ear l6 (Fig. 5) which is bent perpendicularly to the channel to extend along the inner surface of the flange ll, being desirably secured to such flange by means of rivets l'l extending through the bottom of the groove l2 in such flange. For the sake of appearance the inner edge of the metal forming the top H! is desirably bent inwardly over the web of the channel l5, as indicated at 3 in Fig. 5,.

To stiffen each section of the table top, I employ a pair of brace members 20 which are secured to the channel l5 near the center thereof and which extend diagonally outwardly in diverging-relation toward the respective outer cor ners of the table-top, as will be clear from Figs. 1 and 3. Each of the braces 20 is formed of a piece of sheet metal disposed in a vertical plane and bent at its outer end as indicated in Fig. 3 to provide a curvedportion 2| lying against the 'inner surface of the flange ll at the rounded of the table top is strengthened and made rigid by braces formed of sheet-metal running in oblique directions beneath the table top and adapted near their outer ends for the reception of the upper ends of the respectivelegs.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my in-v supporting the center leaf beneath the table when.

it is not in use; and Fig. 6 is a fragmental vertical section on the line 66 of Fig. 3.

. Each of the two sections of the table embodies a sheet-metal top l0 generally rectangular in shape with its outer corners rounded. Along two sides and across the outer end, the metal of the top I0 is bent downwardly to form a continuous flange II, and such flange is offset inwardly intermediate its height to form a channel l2 (Fig. 6).

Across the inner end of the top In there extends a brace l5 of sheet-metal, such brace decorner of the top and an end portion 22 which extends obliquely inward of the table top and is secured to the body of the brace 20 as by means of a rivet 23. Spaced inwardly of the table from the curved portion 2| the body 20 of the brace'and the end portion 22 are formed to provide outwardly facing, vertically extending, semicircular grooves adapted respectively for the reception of the upper ends of tubular legs 25. Except in the vicinity of the leg-receiving groove just described, the upper and lower edges of the brace 20 are bent into horizontal planes to. form reinforcing flanges 26. 5

To hold the legs 25 in position, there is associated with each brace 20-2l22 a pair of clamp-bracket 30. Each of these brackets is desirably in the form of an L -shaped sheet-metal stamping having one leg 3| secured to the flange II as by means of rivets 32 and the other leg 33 extending inwardly of the table along the ad jacent portion of the brace 20-2l--22. Opposite the semicircular groove in the adjacent portion of the brace, the leg 33 of each clamp member is provided with a complementary semicircular groove. Intermediate their heights, the bracket-leg 33 and the adjacent portion 20 or 22 of the brace are offset outwardly in channelsection to stiffen them, as indicated at 35 in Figs.

3 and 6. At each side of the leg-receiving'socket formed by the vertical grooves the vertical webs of the channel-like oifsets35 in the clamp and brace are parallel to each other so as to meet channel l2 member l5.

squarely the head and nut of a clamp bolt 86 passing through them.

The two legs 25 at each corner of the table have their upper ends secured to the top by tightening of the several clamp bolts 36. Desirably, the legs are offset outwardly below their upper ends and converge downwardly, their lower ends being received in and secured to a suitable foot 31.

If desired, each section of the table top may be additionally reinforced by the provision of an intermediate transverse brace member 48 which has its inner end secured to the diagonal brace 20 and which extends outwardly parallel to the channel 15, having its outer end bent at right angles to form an ear 4| which is secured to the flange l I as by means of rivets 42 passing through the bottom of the channel l2. See Fig. 3.

It will be noted that the rivets which secure the clamp members 38 and the outer ends of the braces I5, 20, and 40 to the flange ll all pass through the bottom of the channel l2. For

the sake of appearance, it is desirable to cover these rivet heads; and for that-purpose I employ a trim-strip 43 which is arch-shaped in cross-section as will be clear from Fig. 6 and which has a width approximately that of the The trim-strip 43 extends from one inner corner of the table top along the continuous flange II to the inner corner of the table top, its ends being bent inwardly along the channel Desirably, such channel member is provided at each of its ends with a tongue 44 which is struck up from itsweb and bent out of the plane thereof as indicated in Fig. 3, and

the end of the trim-strip 43 overlies the tongue 44 and is secured thereto as by means of a screw 44. By this arrangement, the trim-strip is tightly seated in'the groove l2, the walls of which support the strip at points remote from the screw 44, and the strip-receiving means is invisible.

In an extension table, the two halves are interconnected for relative longitudinal movement by means of a pair of tubular guides 45 which "are slidably received in openings in the webs of the channels l andthe auxiliary brace members 40 as will be clear from Figs. 1 and 3. Desirably, the metal at the edge of each guide-receiving hole in the channels l5 and braces 40 is displaced to form an annular flange 45 which increases the effective extent of the bearing of theguide 45 in'such members. Cotter pins 41 or other abutments provided at the ends of the guides 45 outwa'rdly'beyond the auxiliary brace members 40 limit the extent to which the two sections of the table can be separated.

The center leaf which is used with an extension table is illustrated in position in fulllines in Figs. 1 and 2 and in Fig. 4. It is formed of a generally rectangular pieceof sheet-metal having its end edges bent .downwardly to constitute flanges 50 similar in s'hape'to the flange II on holes 58.

each section of the table proper and its side edges turned down to form side flanges 5!. For uniformity of appearance, each of. the flanges 50 is provided with a channel" like the channel I2 in the flange I I, such channel being covered with a trim-strip 52 having its ends bent inwardly and secured to the flanges 5| in a manner simsaid clamp members .and its associated braceopposed grooves or channels adapted, when the two sections of the table are forced together to receive the shanks 55 of the members 54 in the manner illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5. At the upper end of each such groove or channel, the reinforcing member I5 is pierced to provide an opening 58 large enough to receive the hooked end 51 of the member 54'.

When the center leaf is removed from the table and before the two sections of the table are forced together, the center leaf is inverted beneath the table, the hooks 51 on the member 54 are passed through the openings 58 in one of the reinforcing members l5 and the two sections of the table are then forced together. Upon initial insertion of the members 54 into the holes 58 the center leaf will be supported by engagement of the hooked end portions 51 on the members .54 with the lower edges of the holes 18. As the table-sections are forced together, however, the shanks 55 on the members 54 are struck by the other table section, which forces the in-. clined portions 55 of the members 54 into the holes l8 and causes the center leaf to be drawn upwardly against the bottom of the table. .When the two sections of the table are completely together, the shanks 55 of the members 54 are firmly seated in the grooves in the reinforcing members l5, and the center leaf is firmly supported in an out of the way, though accessible, position. When it is desired to insert the center leaf, the table-sections are separated. This frees the members 54 and permits the hooked ends 51 thereof to be disengaged fromthe holes l8, whereupon the center leaf may be removed frombeneath the table and placed between the two table sections in the position illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 4. Desirably, the side flanges 5| of the center leaf are trimmed so as to engage the guides 45 and support the center leaf with its upper surface flush with the-upper surface ID of each table-section.

'Attention is directed to the fact that the in- 'sertion of the members 54 into the holes 58 and their removal from such holes is facilitated by the inclined portions 55. Because of these inclined portions the center leaf lies closely against the under surface of the table top when the table-sections are collapsed but lies considerably below the under surface of the table top when the tablesections are separated and it is desired to engage the hooks 51 with the lower edges of the I claim as my invention:

1. In a metal table, a generally rectangular sheet-metal top having a downwardly extending marginal flange, a sheet-metal brace associated with each corner of said top, each of said braces having a diagonally extending main portion, an intermediate portion lying against and secured to said flange at the comer of the table-top, and an end portion extending inwardly from said flange and secured to said main portion, a pair of clamp members secured to said flange and extending inwardly in juxtaposition to the main portion and end portion of said brace, each of portion being provided with a pair of opposed vertically extending grooves, a leg member received in each such pair of grooves, a common marginal flange, a sheet-metal brace associatedwith each corner of said top, each of said braces having a diagonally extending main portion, an intermediate portion lying against and secured to said flange at the corner of the table-top, and an end portion extending inwardly from said flange and secured to said main portion, a pair of clamp members secured to said flange and extending inwardly in juxtaposition to the main portion and end portion of said brace, each of said clamp members and its associated braceportion being provided with a pair of opposed vertically extending grooves, a leg member received in each such-pair of grooves, a common and clamp members having portions extending along and secured to said flange.

6. The invention set forth in claim 4 with the addition that said brace members and clamp members'are formed of sheet-metal which, intermediate the height of the members and adjacent the leg-receiving grooves therein, is offset in channel-section to provide a stiffening rib.

7. In an extensible sheet-metal table, two slidably interconnected sections each including a generally rectangular top-portion provided with legs at its outer corners and having a depending flange along its sides and outer end, a sheet metal reinforcingmember extending across the top-portion beneath the inner edge thereof, and

a. trim-strip overlying said flange and having its ends bent inwardly along said reinforcing memfoot for the two leg members at each corner of the table, and means for clamping each leg memberbetween the clamp member and brace portion associated with it.

3. The'invention set forth in claim 1 with the addition that the material of each clamp memberand its associated brace portion is offset outwardly intermediate its height in channel cross section to provide a stiffening rib.

4. In a metal table, a sheet-metal top, brace members connected to said top and extending inwardly from the periphery thereof, a clamp member associated with the outer end of each brace member, said clamp member and its associated brace member being provided with opposed vertically extending grooves, a leg member'received in such grooves, and clamp bolts for drawing each clamp member and its associated brace together to clamp said leg member between them.

5. The invention set forth in claim 4 with the addition that said table-top is provided with 9. depending peripheral flange, said brace members ber and secured thereto in position to be concealed when the two table-sections are together.

8. The invention set forth in claim '7 with the addition that said flange is formed intermediate its height to provide an outwardly opening continuous groove, said trim strip overlying said groove and being supported by the side walls thereof, portions of said reinforcing member near- I each end thereof being offset toward the outer end of the table-section, and a screw passing through each end of said trim strip and into the adjacent ofiset portion of said reinforcing mem-' addition that portions of said reinforcing member neareach end thereof are offset toward the outer end of the table-section, and a screw'passing through each end of said trim strip and into the adjacent offset portion of said reinforcing member to secure the trim strip in place.

, EARL C. BOOTH. 

